With her crazy shock of hair, baby doll pout, mature lyrics, and distinctive voice -- somewhere between a lispy squeak and a husky groan -- Chara is one of the most interesting female vocalists working in Japan, whose music has stood outside the two main trends of her country's music scene. Neither Jpop nor club pop or Jindies rock, Chara's... [+] Read More

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Often likened to a Japanese Alanis Morissette or Fiona Apple, Cocco (real name Tomoko Makishi) mixes her inward, confessional lyrics with hard rock arrangements. With her earthy voice, she is far from the usual, high-pitched Japanese pop starlets usually heard by the West -- though she has her soft, beautiful tones as well. Born in Okinawa, the... [+] Read More

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Though the Japan pop duo Puffy may be relatively unheard of in the U.S., they have achieved superstar status in Japan. Puffy, who are Yumi Yoshimura and Ami Onuki, originally busted onto Japan's pop music scene back in 1996 with their hit single "Asia No Junshin." Regularly appearing in magazines and on TV (even hosting their own show), Puffy... [+] Read More

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